Match up

ABSTRACT

A matching game apparatus and method of play comprising a gaming board in the form of a grid with a starting space located thereon. Indicia bearing tiles are pulled at random by the players, who commence play by amassing an initial set of tiles and a first player setting a tile in the starting space. Subsequent players must find a match within their sets of tiles, and place a matching tile atop the previous player&#39;s tile and another tile adjacent to the matching tiles. If a player doesn&#39;t have a matching tile, that player must draw tiles at random in an attempt to draw a matching tile. After three attempts, the player forfeits the turn and the next player&#39;s turn commences. The first player to get rid of all tiles in that player&#39;s possession is declared the winner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office fileor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Board games are known in the art, as are games wherein players mustmatch symbols or indicia. However, there are currently no games in theart wherein players chose tiles bearing a variety of indicia, andattempt to match the indicia with the tiles of other players, andwherein unmatched tiles are placed immediately adjacent to matchingtiles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved matching game wherein players chose indicia bearing tiles tomatch the indicia on tiles of other players and continue play by placingnon-matching tiles in adjacent spaces on the gaming board. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a game wherein players draw aseries of tiles at random to create a source of tiles from which toselect matching tiles. Still another object of the invention is toprovide a game wherein players that cannot locate matching tiles amongthe tiles in their possession must draw new tiles at random in anattempt to draw a matching tile. These and other embodiments will becomeapparent from the appended Summary, Description and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an improved matching game apparatus andplaying method. The game apparatus comprises a game board with a playinggrid, including a starting point located in a corner of the grid. Aseries of racks to hold tiles are allocated to the players. The tilesare disposed on the racks in a manner that prevents other players fromseeing the indicia of other players. A total of 160 tiles are used inthe game, each bearing one of twenty indicia or symbols. A containerkeeps the tiles hidden from view so that a player cannot see the indiciaon a tile when drawing it from the bag. In this manner the tiles arechosen at random by the players. Each player randomly selects twentytiles from the bag.

After determining the first player by pulling numbered cards, the firstplayer places a first tile on the game board. The next player searchestheir tiles for matching indicia. The second player places a matchingtile atop the first player's tile if the second player has a matchingtile. The second player then places another tile adjacent to thestarting point and first tile. Thereafter, subsequent players placematching tiles in the same manner as the second player.

If a player cannot find a tile with matching indicia, the player mustattempt to draw a matching tile from the bag containing the remainingtiles. If the drawn tile has matching indicia, it may be played. If thedrawn tile lacks matching indicia, another tile must be drawn. Afterthree draws, a player is forced to pass and the next player goes. Theuse of numerical indicia, is by way of example only, and other indiciaor symbols may be used

FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game board racks and tiles of thepresent invention being set up to commence play.

FIG. 2 is a view of the starting point at the top left of the game boardprior to commencing play.

FIG. 3 is a view of the starting point of the board and subsequentlytiled squares after play has commenced and three player turns haveoccurred.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the matching game of the present inventioncomprises an improved apparatus and method of play. The game apparatuscomprises a game board 12 consisting of a playing grid 14. In onepreferred embodiment, the grid comprises a square of 144 individualboxes. One box in the grid is designated as the starting point 16 forthe game. In a preferred embodiment, the starting point is located in acorner of the grid, and bears the phrase “start here” oriented so thatit appears in the top left corner of the board. In various otherembodiments, other indicia may be placed on the board, including thetitle of the game. In one embodiment, the title is placed on one side ofthe board, and oriented so that it appears along the left side of theboard.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a series of racks 18 are allocated to theplayers in order to hold indicia bearing tiles 20. The tiles 20 aredisposed on the racks 18 in a manner that prevents other players fromseeing the indicia 22 on a player's tiles 20. In one embodiment, theracks are “V” shaped in profile, allowing the tiles to rest at an anglefacing a player. In a further preferred embodiment, the game comprises160 tiles 20, each bearing one of twenty indicia 22 or symbols, anduntil a player selects a tile or tiles, they are housed in a container,or bag 24, hidden from view so that a player cannot see the indicia 22on a tile 20 when drawing it from the bag 24.

A means of establishing the priority and order of play accompanies thegame. In a preferred embodiment, this means comprises a series ofnumbered cards which are selected at random by the players; wherein theplayer selecting the lowest card goes first. In further embodiments, themeans comprises blue numbered cards contained in a separate bag.

Referring to FIG. 2, the game is played by first selecting an order ofplay, including a first player. Each player randomly selects twentytiles 20 from the bag 24 and arrays the tiles 20 on their individualracks 18 so that the indicia 22 on the tiles 20 are out of view of theother players. Each tile will bear one of twenty indicia chosenrandomly, and after the players pull their respective tiles, eightytiles remain in the bag 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, to start the game, the first player places a firsttile on a predetermined starting point on the game board. The nextplayer searches their rack of tiles for a tile with matching indicia. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the first player has placed a tile with theindicia “14” on the starting square to start the game. The second playerhas found a matching tile and placed that tile atop the first player'stile.

After the second player places a matching tile atop the first playerstile, the second player places another tile comprising any indicia,including the indicia of the first players tile, adjacent to thestarting point. In the illustrated embodiment, the second player hasplaced a tile with the indicia “18” adjacent to the starting point.Thereafter, subsequent players place matching tiles in the same manneras the second player. In the illustrated embodiment, the third playerhas placed a matching tile bearing the indicia “18” atop the secondplayer's tile, and has placed a tile bearing the indicia “2” adjacent toit. In this manner, play continues until one of the players runs out oftiles and is declared the winner.

If a player cannot find a tile with matching indicia, the player mustdraw a tile in an attempt to pull a matching tile from the bag. If thepulled tile has indicia matching the last tile played on the board, thattile may be played. If the pulled tile lacks indicia matching the lasttile played on the board, the player may pull another tile. This attemptmay be made a total of three times before the player is forced to “pass”and it becomes the next player's turn. In one preferred embodiment, playis executed in a clockwise rotation around the board from the startingposition. All non-matching tiles are retained in the player's racksfollowing their turn.

The use of numerical indicia, including the numbers one through twentyin the illustrated game apparatus is by way of example only. It isanticipated that other indicia or symbols may be used. In anotherpreferred embodiment, letters of the alphabet are used as indicia,including the letters “A” through “T.” In one further embodiment, humananatomical parts comprising words or symbols for the chest, heart,ankle, foot, knee, finger, stomach, nose, ear, eye, neck, elbow, toe,hand, leg, throat, spine, rib, head, and arm may be used. In yet anotherembodiment, words or symbols for; horse, goat, rabbit, donkey, dog, cat,mule, pig, lion, elephant, tiger, cow, giraffe, camel, ox, bear,hippopotamus, zebra, sheep, and leopard or other animals may be used. Inyet another embodiment words or symbols for orange, banana, apple,mango, plum, cherry, tangerine, golden apple, peach, watermelon, grape,nectarine, guava, papaya, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear,grapefruit, and raspberry or other fruits may be used. Finally, in yetanother embodiment, the symbols may comprise biblical names such asMoses, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Noah, Amos, Samson, Isaiah, Ezra, Adam,Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon, Ezekiel,and Abraham.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

1. An improved matching game method comprising the steps of; a. fourplayers establishing an order of play and designate a first player usinga predetermined selection criteria; b. each player randomly selecting 20indicia bearing tiles from a tile container, including a bag, andplacing the tiles on a rack such that the indicia are out of view of theother players, and wherein the indicia on the tiles bear symbols; c. thefirst player commencing game play by placing a tile on a predeterminedstarting point on the game board; d. a subsequent player attempting tofind a tile with a matching symbol among that subsequent player's tiles,wherein if a tile with a matching symbol is available, that tile isplaced atop the first player's tile and a second tile is selected andplaced at a position adjoining the matching tile; and wherein if nomatching tile is available, the subsequent player pulls a tile at randomfrom the tile container, attempting to obtain a matching tile, and pullsno more than three tiles during the attempt; e. subsequent playersengaging in the same method of play; and f. determining a winner byidentifying the first player who successfully moves all of their tilesfrom their rack to the game board.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinplay order is established by a random selection means.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein random selection is established by pulling numberbearing means from a container, including a bag.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein four blue number bearing means indicia are pulled at randomfrom the bag and the lowest number goes first.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the starting point is located at the upper left corner of theboard.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is played in aclockwise rotation from the predetermined starting point.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the tile container contains 160 tiles, and 20indicia, so that eight tiles bear the same indicia.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein tiles with non-matching indicia are retained in aplayer's rack following their turn.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe indicia on the tiles comprise indicia chosen from the list of;numerical characters, alphabetical characters, human anatomical parts,animal names, fruit names, or biblical names.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the numerical characters comprise the numbers one throughtwenty.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the alphabetical characterscomprise characters from the Roman alphabet; letters “A” through “T” 12.The method of claim 9, wherein the anatomical parts comprise words orsymbols for; chest, heart, ankle, foot, knee, finger, stomach, nose,ear, eye, neck, elbow, toe, hand, leg, throat, spine, rib, head, andarm.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the animals comprise words orsymbols for; horse, goat, rabbit, donkey, dog, cat, mule, pig, lion,elephant, tiger, cow, giraffe, camel, ox, bear, hippopotamus, zebra,sheep, and leopard.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the fruitscomprise words or symbols for; orange, banana, apple, mango, plum,cherry, tangerine, golden apple, peach, watermelon, grape, nectarine,guava, papaya, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear, grapefruit, andraspberry.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the biblical namescomprise; Moses, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Noah, Amos, Samson, Isaiah, Ezra,Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon,Ezekiel, and Abraham.
 16. An improved matching game apparatuscomprising; a. a game board comprising a playing grid, indicia for apredetermined starting point, and an indicia indicating the title of thegame; b. a series of racks for holding indicia bearing tiles, whereinany single player of the game will possess a rack while play is carriedout; c. a tile containing means which holds 160 indicia bearing tiles ina manner that permits a player to pull a tile from the container withoutprior knowledge of the indicia on the tile; and d. a means ofestablishing a first player and order of play, wherein the players eachselect 20 tiles, placing the tiles on their racks so that the indiciaare out of view of the other players, and wherein the first player setsa tile at a predetermined starting point, and subsequent players musteither place a matching tile atop the previous player's tile and anothertile adjacent to the matching tile, or if no matching tiles areavailable, pull tiles one at a time from the containing means in anattempt to obtain a matching tile, wherein a player's turn stops afterplacing a matching and second tile, or after three unsuccessful attemptsto find a matching tile.
 17. The game apparatus of claim 16, wherein theracks comprise “V” shaped channels that hold the tiles at an angleviewable to only one player.
 18. The game apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe game board comprises a square grid of 144 boxes.